Commuters in Sydney鈥檚 eastern suburbs are angry with the New South Wales government鈥檚 plan to cut 25 bus routes in the south-eastern suburbs.
Transport minister Andrew Constance said on May 6 that a further 23 will be modified and 11 new routes will be added.
The bus service cuts are intended to force people to travel on the under utilised new $3 billion light rail network. But the cuts will oblige travellers to catch more than one mode of transport to reach the city. Previously, they could catch one bus.
condemned the plan. 鈥淥ur buses are being removed to force people to use the failed light聽rail, as its patronage is down 90 per cent from anticipated levels,鈥 she told the May City Hub.
The NSW branch of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) described the move a 鈥渂etrayal鈥 of the residents who had 鈥渃ampaigned relentlessly to save their transport services鈥 when the proposal was leaked last year, the City Hub reported.
鈥淭he government鈥檚 blatant disregard for the community, including its own constituents, baffles belief. But the community won this consultation, and now it鈥檚 time to hammer home the message,鈥 the RTBU said.
The proposed new bus route plan is open for feedback until June 18. If introduced, the changes could begin late this year.
The community campaign against the bus service cuts is escalating, with plans for a rally on May 30.